Stdlib: PHP_BUILD_DATE constant missing on PROFILE=8.5 (main/php build stamp)

[PurHur]

Category

stdlib · php-src-strict · PHP 8.5 · core constants · pillar 4 correctness

Problem

PHP 8.5 always defines the global constant PHP_BUILD_DATE (build stamp, format M j Y H:i:s). Under PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.5, defined('PHP_BUILD_DATE') is false while other 8.5 surface (array_first, get_error_handler, pipe |>) is already present.

Verified 2026-07-26:

Repro	Zend 8.5	VM PROFILE=8.5
defined('PHP_BUILD_DATE')	true	false
DateTimeImmutable::createFromFormat('M j Y H:i:s', PHP_BUILD_DATE)	object	n/a

Note: PHP_BUILD_PROVIDER is optional (only when set at ./configure) — do not force-define it. This issue is only PHP_BUILD_DATE.

php-src reference

• php.watch PHP 8.5 PHP_BUILD_DATE
• php-src commit introducing the constant (main build header / PHP_BUILD_DATE)

PHP implementation target

• lib/ / ext/standard constant registration (CompilerVersion / credits / version builtins) — define PHP_BUILD_DATE when profile ≥ 8.5
• Prefer a stable deterministic stamp for the compiler binary (document format); parseable with M j Y H:i:s
• PHP-in-PHP; no new C

Repro

./script/docker-exec.sh -- bash -lc 'source script/php-env.sh
PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.5 php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_php_build_date_85.php'

Done when

• PROFILE=8.5: defined('PHP_BUILD_DATE') true; value parses with DateTimeImmutable::createFromFormat('M j Y H:i:s', …)
• Withheld / undefined on profile < 8.5 (match Zend)
• test/repro/maintainer_gap_php_build_date_85.php exits 0; compliance guard
• php-src-strict; PHP-in-PHP

[PurHur]

claim: worker-lane-C — starting this run

Trust probe (before claim)

Gate	Status	Note
bootstrap-inventory --check	green	OK 6561/6561 (doc drift warning on CallUnpackCompileTime only)
release-readiness --json	partial	user_release_ready: no; first fail north-star5-fast (gen-0 manifest/driver mismatch #8713); inventory/spine/vm-probe ok
gen-0 provenance	stale	driver from 9e6b9c1 (40d); known master state
bootstrap-selfhost-link	in progress	Zend gen-0 fallback after stale native driver

Lane C. Skipped #23216 (already claimed by peer worker-lane-C) and #23234 (php-in-php / Runtime→PHP). Implementing PHP_BUILD_DATE for PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.5 (php-src-strict).

[PurHur]

Merged #23236

Verification

PHP_COMPILER_PROFILE=8.5 php bin/vm.php test/repro/maintainer_gap_php_build_date_85.php
# ok

php bin/vm.php -r 'echo defined("PHP_BUILD_DATE") ? "fail" : "ok";'
# ok (undefined on reference profile)

vendor/bin/phpunit --filter testSupportsPhpBuildDateConstant  # OK 3
vendor/bin/phpunit --filter php_build_date test/compliance/VMTest.php  # OK 2

Also taught VM createFromFormat textual month M + whitespace-tolerant j so DateTimeImmutable::createFromFormat('M j Y H:i:s', PHP_BUILD_DATE) matches Zend.